Ohio State Football: 3 Buckeyes to have Breakout seasons in 2023
The Ohio State football team is gearing up for the 2023 season as summer is officially underway. Here are three players who can break out.
The Ohio State football team has a bit of a break as summer is upon us and fall camp will be right around the corner. But the work doesn’t stop as these Buckeyes are still busy with workouts and diving into the playbook. Recruiting is also really going to start to ramp up for the coaches as well this month.
But with all that’s going on, the Buckeyes have many candidates to have breakout-level performances in 2023. Here are three players that we think can bust out next season.
No. 3: CJ Hicks, Linebacker
The former prized five-star recruit from the home state is poised to break out in 2023. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said it himself when he said that Hicks would be “unleashed” next season. Hicks has all the athletic ability in the world, and now that he has a season under his belt in learning the scheme, he should see a solid role in a rotation with Steele Chambers at the weakside linebacker spot.
No. 2: Josh Fryar, Left Tackle
Josh Fryar will need to break out in 2023 in order for Ohio State to meet its goals next season. He is currently the best option that the Buckeyes have for left tackle, and he played very well when called upon last season to fill in at right tackle and right guard in the Indiana and Michigan games respectively.
The sense I get is that the coaching staff has been pleased with Fryar’s progress this Spring in the transition to the left side and that the move of adding Josh Simmons from the portal is to help bolster the competition at right tackle.
Next. Joe Philbin is Hartline’s stamp on the coaching staff. dark
No. 1: Jack Sawyer, Defensive End
Another local five-star talent, Sawyer will be moved back to defensive end from the hybrid “Jack” position that he played a season ago. Back to his natural spot, and with J.T Tuimoloau feasting on the opposite side of him, Sawyer should see plenty of one-on-one opportunities to get to the quarterback. And with this being his third year in the program, I like those odds of Sawyer being able to get home and produce a double-digit sack total.